Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Namaste! Here is a simple idea which I believe encapsulates the essence of what makes Indian religions so special. Other religions tend to be obsessed with God as an object. Indian religions (or at least Vedanta and Buddhism) place the focus on consciousness. This sensitivity to the miracle of consciousness is, in my opinion, the most inspired and luminous aspect of these spiritual paths. Most of us take our consciousness for granted most of the time. We are usually preoccupied with the petty details of life ... all objects. When was the last time we realized with wonder how amazing it is that we are conscious in the first place? What an unfathomable mystery it is to be conscious! But normally we just 'look through' consciousness at the so-called objects and become engrossed in them. In fact, the miracle of consciousness is so amazing that one who is fully aware of it must conclude that it is inherently divine. Yes, consciousness is inherently divine! This is an immediately available truth that requires no scripture but only sensitive awareness of our immediate nature. And it is no pretentious claim on my part. Just think about it for a minute without preconceptions! Since you are interested in this list, then you surely know what I mean. It is because I find such sentiments echoed in, e.g., the Upanishads, that I accept them as truth. It is not that I arbitrarily decide that the Upanishads must be 'it' and I will therefore program my brain with them. That notion is abhorrent. The 'Tat tvam asi' or 'Aham Brahmasmi' is something that can be immediately verified by anyone with calm and pure introspection. We can get a glimpse of it just by being silently aware of our true nature. Of course, the great sages have plunged far deeper into the miracle of consciousness and have thereby burned away all their psychological impurities. But I don't hesitate to say that we can catch a glimpse of this ourselves, right now, no matter who we are or how 'bad' we are, just by being aware of the miracle of consciousness! It requires no thought and no effort. Om! Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 advaitin, Benjamin Root <orion777ben> wrote: > > Namaste! > > Here is a simple idea which I believe encapsulates the essence of > what makes Indian religions so special. > > > Most of us take our consciousness for granted most of the time. We > are usually preoccupied with the petty details of life ... all > objects. When was the last time we realized with wonder how amazing > it is that we are conscious in the first place? What an unfathomable > mystery it is to be conscious! But normally we just 'look through' > consciousness at the so-called objects and become engrossed in them. > Namaste, When poets are inspired, they lead us there too! http://sanskrit.gde.to/doc_upanishhat/katha.itx ##{Part II}## ##{Canto I}## paraaJNchi khaani vyatR^iNat.h svayambhuu\- stasmaatparaaN^pashyati naantaraatman.h . kashchiddhiiraH pratyagaatmaanamaiksha\- daavR^ittachakshuramR^itatvamichchhan.h .. 1.. ============================================================== http://www.philosophy.ru/library/asiatica/indica/upanisada/katha/beck. html KATHA UPANISHAD English version by Sanderson Beck 4 "The self-existent pierced the openings outward; therefore one looks outward, not inside the soul. A certain wise person, however, seeking immortality, looking within saw the soul. "The childish go after outward pleasures; they walk into the net of widespread death. But the wise, aware of immortality, do not seek the stable among things which are unstable here. That by which form, taste, smell, sound, and caressing are discerned is with that. What is there that remains? This truly is that. =============================================================== http://www.netpoets.com/classic/poems/016002.htm Dejection: An Ode by Samuel Taylor Coleridge III My genial spirits fail; And what can these avail To lift the smothering weight from off my breast? It were a vain endeavour, Though I should gaze forever On that green light that lingers in the west: I may not hope from outward forms to win The passion and the life, whose fountains are within. ============================================================== Regards, Sunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2003 Report Share Posted April 20, 2003 Namaste! Sri Jay sent me a private impassioned email, which raises a valid point. I would like to share the answer with you, so that there is no misunderstanding regarding my previous post (#16796) on the 'Miracle of Consciousness' --- Jay Nelamangala <jay wrote: > Dear Benjamin, > > Namaste. > > >catch a glimpse of this ourselves, right now, no matter who we are or > >how 'bad' we are, just by being aware of the miracle of consciousness! > >It requires no thought and no effort. > > As long as you don't call it Vedanta, everything is > just fine. > > Because, kaTopanishat on the contrary describes the > same path as > > "kshurasya dhArA nishitA duratyayA durgam pathaha > tat kavayO vadanti" > (The knowledgeable (kavayO) say (vadanti) that this > path is difficult ( durgam pathaha) and it is like > walking on razor sharp blade ). > > It DOES require Vedic thought and it DOES require effort. Namaste Sri Jay! You certainly bring a lot of intensity to your spiritual quest! That much is excellent. But as Sri Ram says, we must all remain humble about our limitations and not think we know everything. I worry that I may have sometimes given that impression, and I have tried to take a more subtle approach lately. Participating in this list is good for our social skills, as well as for our spiritual education! Your point is certainly well taken. In my original message, I took pains to say that my little idea regarding the miracle of consciousness enables us to 'catch a glimpse' (my specific words) of the Vedantic wisdom. That glimpse does not require much effort in my opinion. But to proceed further along the spiritual path does indeed require considerable effort, as you correctly say. This inspiring glimpse is particularly important to me, because, unlike you, I have not been fortunate enough to acquire faith in the blessed Vedas through my mother's milk. So I need some inspiring notion as the spark with which to ignite the fire. The notion works so well for me that I wish to share it with others, who may be in a similar situation. May we all proceed from darkness to light! OM BHOOR BHUVAH SVAH TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI DHIYO YONAH PRACHODAYAAT. Om! Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2003 Report Share Posted April 21, 2003 Namaste Shri Benjamin, Yes, indeed, Consciousness is a miracle. I am hastening to add my quote. I very much enjoy chanting the following verse from the Hymn to Lord DakSiNAmUrti by Sankara. I feel ecstasy pulsate all over me when I contemplate on its meaning. In fact, I believe this one verse has been more effective in my understanding of advaita than the rest of all the stuff I have read put together. This is no exaggeration. nAnAashcidraghatodarastita mahA dIpaprabhAbhAswaram jnAnam yasya tu cakshurAdikarana dwAra bahispandateE jAnAmIti tamevabhAntam anubhAtyetad samastam jagat tasmai srI gurumUrtayE namah idam srI dakSiNamUrtayE "He the one and only one Knowledge that shines pulsatingly as "I know", "I know" … through the organs of perception like the eyes etc., like a brilliant lamp placed inside a pot that has many holes all over its body, Which this whole universe shines after - my prostrations to that auspicious and divine embodiment of a Teacher, Sri DakSinAmUrti". ___ PranAms. Madathil Nair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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